Change from continuous epidural infusion to patient-controlled epidural analgesia on the labour ward of a large district general hospital.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R Walpole.
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BACKGROUND: In a prospective randomized study, we compared topical 4% amethocaine gel (Ametop) with 2% lidocaine infiltration for analgesia for radial artery cannulation. A previous study had shown topical analgesia with EMLA cream reduced pain, shortened cannulation time, and improved success rates when compared with lidocaine infiltration. METHODS: One hundred adult patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery were randomized. Cannulation times and success rates were compared between the two groups. The quality of analgesia was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and four-point verbal pain scoring system. RESULTS: Ninety-nine sets of data were analysed using Mann-Whitney U and chi-squared tests. Mean time to cannulation was 56 s in the amethocaine group (interquartile range (IQR) 41-142) and 59 s in the lidocaine group (IQR 40-105). The median pain score on the VAS was 2 in both groups (IQR 1-3.5 for amethocaine and 0-4 for lidocaine). CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference between these two methods of analgesia for any measured variable.
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We studied the respiratory effects of the administration of either 5% halothane or 8% sevoflurane in 70% nitrous oxide (N2O) for 5 min in 21 boys aged 1-5 years. A similar degree of ventilatory depression was noted with both agents. Minute volume fell by approximately 50% as a result of a reduction in tidal volume despite an increase in respiratory rate.
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We have conducted a randomized, double-blind comparison of 4% and 8% sevoflurane for induction of anaesthesia in unpremedicated patients aged more than 60 yr. Sevoflurane was inhaled in 50% nitrous oxide using a vital capacity breath technique, and mean, systolic and diastolic arterial pressures and heart rate were monitored continuously using a Finapres cuff. In the 8% sevoflurane group, time to successful laryngeal mask insertion was significantly shorter (mean 168 (SD 34) s vs 226 (62) s; P < 0.01) and achieved more often at the first attempt than in the 4% sevoflurane group. Arterial pressures were lower in the 8% group, but this was not significant. No patient had apnoea lasting longer than 1 min. A total of 69% of patients described induction as pleasant and 85% would choose to have it again. We conclude that compared with 8% sevoflurane, the use of 4% sevoflurane in the elderly resulted in greater cardiovascular stability but at the cost of prolonged and occasionally unsuccessful induction.
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